Green UPS Reduces Standby Power

APC has introduced a new uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which shuts down power to connected peripherals when a computer goes into sleep mode.

Like other UPS' APC's Back-UPS ES 750 provides battery backup power and surge protection to a computer. Unlike them it has new master/controlled outlets, which reduce energy consumption by automatically shutting down power to unused peripherals, such as printers, scanners and speakers when the host computer is shut down or in sleep mode.

Joe Loberti, APC-MGE's SVP for home and distributed systems, said: "The electronics in this unit are meticulously engineered to minimise impact on the environment and maximise efficiency, consuming up to five times less power in normal operation than other available solutions – saving consumers money on their electric bill."

The master outlet monitors the current drawn by the host computer. If it drops down to levels indicating sleep mode or shut-down then it will automatically shut-down power to the controlled outlets, which consume power even when the computer is off. APC claims that, by cutting power to these so-called 'dark loads,' its new UPS can provide a combined savings of $40 (£20 at ordinary conversion rates) per year on average as compared with competitors’ models.

The Back-UPS ES 750 has ten outlets, all of which provide surge protection with five of them also providing battery backup. It has a capacity of 450 watts and provides up to 70 minutes of run time, depending on the load. It also offers coax and telephone or Ethernet protection ensuring surges and spikes do not travel through data lines. A data port enables communication with APC’s PowerChute Personal Edition software, which automatically powers down the computer system in the event of an extended power outage.

APC says its new UPS is also more energy-efficient than other UPS products. It complies with RoHS regulations and uses less copper and other raw materials in manufacture. The packaging is made from recycled material.

It will take two and a half years for the new UPS to pay for itself in terms of saved power as its recommended retail price is $99.99 (£50.00) in North America.

Source:techworld.com/green-it/news/index.cfm?newsid=11188#commentsform